ANNUAL RHYTHMS OF ENERGY BALANCE AND BEHAVIOR

该提案的总体目标是进一步描述神经内分泌机制，这些机制是日常麻木的启动和表达的基础，这是一种极端的温度调节形式，其进化有助于动物应对有限的食物供应。 将探讨昏睡与整体能量平衡和身体脂肪储存的关系。 西伯利亚仓鼠（Photopus sungorus）是所有实验中的模型物种，其每日麻痹的年度节律有据可查。 具体目标包括：1）阐明了体脂肪储存减少与其反馈机制之间的关系，2）描述了瘦素作为抑制迟钝起始的代谢信号的作用，3）探索了NPY在迟钝中的作用;四、确定间脑机制在启动日常麻木中的作用关于间脑机制的生理机制，我们仍然有很多不了解的地方。控制能量平衡和温度调节。 在西伯利亚仓鼠这样的模型系统中，描述代谢反馈信号和日常麻木之间的相互作用，可以为哺乳动物特别是人类的这些过程的调节提供重要的见解。 深入了解可逆性低温的机制具有重要的医学意义。 在许多类型的大手术中，与体温过低同时发生的代谢、血流等减少可能非常有益。 目前，我们对西伯利亚仓鼠和其他几种哺乳动物经历低温的机制知之甚少，低温对人类和大多数其他哺乳动物是致命的。拟议的研究解决了调节生物学的基本问题，从而提供了建立适用于所有哺乳动物的一般原则的机会。

The overall goal of this proposal is to further characterize the neuroendocrine mechanisms that underlie the initiation and expression of daily torpor, an extreme form of temperature regulation that evolved to help animals contend with limited food availability. The relation of torpor to overall energy balance and body fat stores will be explored. Annual rhythms of daily torpor are well documented in the Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus), the model species in all experiments. Specific aims include: 1) clarifying the relation between decreases in body fat stores and its feedback mechanisms in the initiation of torpor; 2) characterizing the role of leptin as a metabolic signal inhibiting initiation of torpor; 3) exploring the role of NPY in torpor; 4) determining the role of diencephalic mechanisms in initiation of daily torpor There is much that we still do not understand about the physiological mechanisms underlying the control of energy balance and thermoregulation. Delineating the interaction between metabolic feedback signals and daily torpor in a model system like the Siberian hamster could provide important insights into the regulation of these processes for mammals in general and humans in particular. A better understanding of the mechanisms of reversible hypothermia is of medical import. The reduced metabolism, blood flow, etc. coincident with hypothermia may be very beneficial during many types of major surgery. At this time, we know little of the mechanism that allows Siberian hamsters and several other mammalian species to undergo hypothermia which is lethal to humans and most other mammals. The proposed research addresses fundamental questions in regulatory biology and, thereby, affords the opportunity of establishing general principles applicable to all mammals.